Apple is in the midst of a period of upheaval. While the company is working intensively on the further development of Siri, it is simultaneously losing several key employees from its AI division. A recent report shows that these departures have not yet slowed down Apple's plans for Siri. On the contrary: two new versions of the voice assistant are still firmly planned and are expected to significantly change Siri.
A new report by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reveals that Apple has lost at least four more AI researchers in recent weeks. This follows the earlier news that a high-ranking Siri manager also left the company. Despite these developments, Apple is continuing with its AI strategy and still plans to release two new versions of Siri.
First new Siri version planned with iOS 26.4
Apple had announced plans to introduce a more personalized version of Siri later this year. This version will be based on Google's Gemini AI model and will be part of iOS 26.4. The beta testing phase is scheduled to begin in February, with the final release currently expected in March or April.
Back in June 2024, Apple revealed initial details about the revamped Siri. The new version is designed to better understand personal context, recognize on-screen content, and offer significantly deeper in-app controls. The goal is to better adapt Siri to individual usage patterns and enable users to complete more tasks directly through voice commands.
Siri as a chatbot with iOS 27
In parallel, according to Gurman, Apple is working on a significantly more advanced innovation. With iOS 27, Siri is expected to become a fully-fledged chatbot. This should enable longer, continuous conversations, similar to ChatGPT or Gemini.
This version of Siri is said to be deeply integrated into iPhone, iPad, and Mac. A separate app would not be necessary. According to Gurman, this Siri chatbot could compete with Gemini 3 and is expected to be significantly more powerful than the personalized Siri version that will be released with iOS 26.4.
Key departures in the Siri and AI sectors
As these developments progress, Apple is losing several experienced professionals. Stuart Bowers, a senior Siri manager considered one of the top executives responsible for Siri, has left the company. He now works at DeepMind, Google's AI research lab.
In addition, four AI researchers have left Apple. These are Yinfei Yang, Haoxuan You, Bailin Wang, and Zirui Wang. Their departures highlight the intense competition for AI talent, especially among large technology companies.
- Apple plans to use Siri as an AI chatbot: All the details on iOS 27
- iOS 26.4 is on its way: Here's what's included in the next update
- Apple under pressure: Why Siri as a chatbot could cost money
Apple pushes ahead with Siri overhaul despite internal challenges
Despite significant staff losses, Apple is consistently pushing ahead with the development of Siri. With a more personalized Siri in iOS 26.4 and a powerful chatbot in iOS 27, the company plans a fundamental overhaul of its voice assistant. Whether Apple can achieve these ambitious goals within the planned timeframe will become clear in upcoming updates. (Image: MuhammadAlimaki / DepositPhotos.com)
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